Automatic coupling



March 22, 193. E. E. BALDWIN QUTOMATIC COUPLING Filed Jan. 27, 195'? 1 N VENTOR.

ARNEY.

Patented. Mar. 22, 1938 AUTOMATIC COUPLING Everett E. Baldwin, Elmira,,N. Y., assignor to Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira, N. Y., a corporation of New York 7 Application January 27, 1937, Serial-No. 122,599

I 8 Claims.

Thepresent invention relates to automatic couplings and moreparticularly to a selfglocking and self-sealing quick detachable coupling for hose adapted to convey fluids under pressure.

- Variousforms offquickdetachable hose couf plings have been developed in which thefjpressure of the fluid being conveyed serves to seal the joint between the parts'of the coupling, and operate H locking mechanism for the members of the cou- "pling, one form of such coupling being exemplii idbyQthedisclosure in the patent to Meyer 1,754,639 in whichlthe parts of the coupling are .loeked together-bye contractile keying means which is forced into locking position by means l5 operated'by the pressure of the fluid transmitted;

but which may be manuallywithdrawn when the fluid pressure; isremoved from the joint.

It is an object of the present invention to. provide a novel quick detachable coupling of the general type described which is reliable and emcient in operation andfsimple and economical in con-- 1 struction. p d

It is another object to provide such a device in which the parts of the coupling are automaticaly 1y looked upon bringing them togetherinto operative relationship, and are unlocked by merely forcing them together more closely; I I t is'a further object to'providefsuch a device in which the unlocking means'does not interfere go-with the action of the locking means when the elements of the coupling are. brought together.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawing in as which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevationpartly in section of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the parts in coupled and locked position;

Fig. 2 15a similar view showing the parts in the positions assumed when the coupling mem bers are unlocked by being forced together; I

1 Figu3 is a side elevation partly in section of the nipple or spud member of the coupling; and Fig. 4 is a similar viewcf the socket member of 5 the coupling. I I

1 Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there I to facilitate assembly, is adapted to receive the spud I, and carries a contractile locking member in the form of a coiled spring member 9 which is adapted to seat in the groove 3 of the spud'I when the coupling members are joined.

Means for sealing the joint between the coupling members I and 6, and.v for wedgingthe locking member9 intoits seat 3 in the'spud I is .provided comprising a flexible piston member II mounted in the part I of the coupling socket 6, having a lip I2 adapted to be forcedby fluid pressure 1 in the coupling into intimate contact with the end of the. spud I, and bearing against a thrust 'washer I3. Fluid pressurein the coupling serves also to actuate the piston member I I to cause the thrust washer I3 to wedge the looking member 9 against aninclined shoulder I4 on the interior of the part8 of the socket whereby the locking member is pressed into the groove 3 members are thereby securely thegroove 3. A shallow groove I9 is formed in the periphery of the sleeve I5 adjacent its outer end adapted'to receive the lock spring 9 andthus yieldingly connect. the sleeve for longitudinal mo- 9 tion with the spring.

In the operation of the device, starting with the coupling members I and I5 separated as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, introduction of the spud or nipple I into the socket 6 causes the cylindrical portion 2 of the nipple to penetrate the sealing piston II until the lock spring 9 snaps into the groove 3, whereupon the parts are securely joined. Fluid pressure applied through the coupling acts on the piston I I to seal the joint by expansion of the piston and prevent dislodgement of the lock member 9 fromthe groove 3 by virtue of the wedging action of the thrust washer I 3 and inclined shoulder I4. It will be noted that when the coupling members are joined, the sleeve I5 slides back to its'retracted position as shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to sever the coupling, the fluid pressure being removed, it is merely necessary to force the spud I further into the socket 6 as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereupon the thrust ring I3 causes the lock spring 9 to ride up on the sleeve I5 and seatin the groove I9 therein. This expansive action of the lock spring is permitted I by the flexibility" of the piston which permits moving therewith by reason of its yielding connection with the lock spring 9 so that the sleeve serves to bridge the groove 3 in the spud and prevent the lock spring from entering the groove. The spud I may thus be freely withdrawn, whereupon the parts assume their original positions as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as delined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coupling, a socket member, a spud member'adapted to enter said socket, locking means including a movable element in' the socket arranged to engage the spud and prevent withdrawal thereof, and means operable by movement of the spud into the socket beyond its locked position Ior,releasing'said locking means.

2. In a coupling, a socket member, a spud member adapted to enter said socket, locking means including a contractile element; in the socket arranged to engage the spud and prevent withdrawal thereof, and means on said spud operable by movement of the spud into the socket beyond its normalposition for distending the contractile element and holding it distended during withdrawal of the spud.

3. In an automatic coupling, a spud member having a peripheral groove, a socket member adapted to receive said spud, a locking member in said socket adapted to engage in said groove, said socket having an inclined shoulder adapted to engage the locking. member and confine it in the groove, means actuatedby movement of the spud intov the socket beyond its normal position for moving the locking member out of the groove, and means for bridging the groove to permit removal of the spud. I

4. In an automatic coupling, a spud member having a peripheral groove, a socket member adapted to receive said spud, a locking member in said socket adapted to engage in said groove, said socket having an inclined shoulder adapted to engage the locking member and confine it in the groove, and means actuated by movement of the spud into the socket beyond its normal position for moving the locking member out of the groove, said means comprising a sleeve on the spud adapted to engage the locking member and prevent its entering the groove during withdrawal of the spud.

5. In a coupling, a cylindrical spud member having a circumferential groove adjacent one end, a socket member adapted to receive the spud, ,a contractile locking ring in the socket adapted to seat in said groove, and a sleeve slidably mounted on the spud adapted to receive the looking member when the spud is iorced'into the socket beyond its normal locked position, said sleeve being arranged to be held by the locking member during the initial withdrawing movement of the spud so as to bridge the groove and thereby render the locking means inoperative.

6. In a coupling, a cylindrical spud member having a circumferential groove adjacent one end, a socket member adapted to receive the spud, a contractile locking ring in the socket adapted to seat in said groove, and a sleeve mounted on the "spud for limited sliding movement relative thereto and having a shallow peripheral groove adapted to receive the locking member when the spud is forced into the socket beyond its normal locked I position whereby the sleeve prevents the locking member from entering the groove in the spud during withdrawal of the spud.

7. In an automatic hose coupling, a cylindrical nipple having a circumferential groove adjacent one end, a socket member adapted to receive said nipple, a contractile locking ring carried by said socket adapted to seat in said groove, fluid-pressure operated means sealing the joint between the nipple and socket and forcing the locking ring into its seat on the nipple, and a sleeve slidably mounted on the nipple adapted to receive the locking ring when the nipple is forced into the EVERETT E. BALDWIN. 

